Recipient Rights

Based upon the public mental health system's obligation under the Michigan Mental Health Code to assure that your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of the United States, of the State of Michigan, and a consumer of public mental health services are protected and supported, the following Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities is established.

NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS - You have the right:

To be informed of your rights as a consumer of public mental health services in a manner and frequency you understand. At the time services are first requested an applicant will be provided a summary of Chapter 7 and 7A. A complete copy of chapter 7 and 7A will be available for review by applicants and recipients.

TREATMENT RIGHTS - You have the right:

To have a person-centered plan that means your treatment plan is developed by you and people you choose to have at your meeting, including your case manager/therapist. You will actively participate in its development, may review the plan, ask questions about the plan, or ask for it to be changed if you think it is not appropriate to your needs.

To dispute or grieve treatment decisions, including pursuing the fair hearing process (Federal Law 42 CFR 431.200-250) for persons who have Medicaid coverage. Woodlands’ policy and procedures regarding the grievance and appeals process is available upon request.

To be told how much you will be charged for your treatment based on your ability to pay, and your right to appeal in the event you disagree with the amount.

To be treated with dignity and respect in a safe and clean treatment environment.

To have assistance in locating and obtaining additional available community resources such as listed below:

Referral assistance to available family planning and health information services will be provided upon request.

Receiving mental health services does not depend in any way on requesting or not requesting family planning or health information services.

To stop treatment with the agency at any time, unless your treatment is court ordered.

RIGHT TO CONSENT - You have the right:

Once you know all the facts, to make your own decision regarding your treatment, release of any information concerning you or your treatment, and to consent to any changes in your treatment.

To change your mind when you believe anything you have agreed to concerning your treatment is no longer in your best interest.

CONFIDENTIALITY RIGHTS - You have the right:

To have information about you and your treatment kept private within the requirements of the law.

To not be discriminated against in receiving services at this agency, and to have all of the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Federal Fair Housing Act, Michigan Handicappers Civil Rights Act, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

RIGHT TO APPEAL/GRIEVE TREATMENT DECISIONS - You have the right:

To complain to the supervisor of the service you participate in and if not satisfied to complain to Woodlands Rights Office, in writing or verbally, if you think something is wrong with your treatment. You have the right to ask staff for Rights Office staff addresses and telephone numbers without being questioned. You also have the right to pursue the established local grievance and appeals process, and if you are covered by Medicaid you have the right to a Fair Hearing (Federal Law 42 CFR 431.200-250). Non-Medicaid recipients can pursue an alternative dispute resolution with the Michigan Department of Community Health after the local grievance and appeals process has been completed.

OTHER RIGHTS - Based upon receiving services from other public agencies (for example; The Department of Human Services, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Department of Education) you may have additional rights specific to those agencies and you are encouraged to contact them regarding those rights.

CONSUMER BILL OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Rights and responsibility go together. People cannot always exercise rights when the results would burden others. The importance of rights does not diminish people's responsibilities for their own lives. A sense of fairness depends on the responsibility shown by each of us.

As a consumer of public mental health services, you have the responsibility:

To keep appointment times as scheduled, or telephone in advance to cancel.

To be fully responsible for your own actions, and for the consequences of those actions. Freedom to choose carries with it the responsibility for your choices.

To be an active participant in your individual plan of service and treatment, and if dissatisfied, to pursue the established grievance and appeals process.

To do as much as possible to identify and meet your own needs.

ACCESS TO RECORDS RIGHTS - You have the right:

If you are a competent adult, you may personally review information that has been put in your record after March 28, 1996. However anything in your record, prior to that date, we may withhold if we feel it could be dangerous to you or someone else.

CIVIL RIGHTS

To respect the rights, privacy, and beliefs of others by showing courtesy and consideration.

To be responsible and not request services that are unnecessary and to pay for the cost of treatment based on your ability to pay.

To respect the environment and property of others, as well as your own.

To share with staff your experience of the Agency's services, of what works well, and what could be done better.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RECIPIENT RIGHTS CONTACT

ANN HART – RECIPIENT RIGHTS OFFICER AT 269-445-2451

OR link directly to Chapter 7 (Rights of Recipients) of the Mental Health Code.

Mission Statement

Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network works in partnership with individuals, families and the community to inspire hope, promote resiliency and achieve recovery by providing effective behavioral health services.